Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Cover Image for Volume 57, Issue 12
September 2016
Volume 57, Issue 12
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   September 2016
Effect of a new dietary supplement formula on the activity and expression of pro-inflammatory genes in vitro
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Francesco Giuliano
    Research and Development, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A., Lavinaio - Aci Sant'Antonio, CT, Italy
  • Manuela Santonocito
    Research and Development, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A., Lavinaio - Aci Sant'Antonio, CT, Italy
  • Luca Rosario La Rosa
    Research and Development, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A., Lavinaio - Aci Sant'Antonio, CT, Italy
  • Cristina Zappulla
    Research and Development, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A., Lavinaio - Aci Sant'Antonio, CT, Italy
  • Santa Viola
    Research and Development, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A., Lavinaio - Aci Sant'Antonio, CT, Italy
  • Marcello Santocono
    Ophthalmology Unit, Di Stefano Velona Private Hospital S.r.l., Catania, Italy
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Francesco Giuliano, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A. (E); Manuela Santonocito, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A. (E); Luca La Rosa, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A. (E); Cristina Zappulla, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A. (E); Santa Viola, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A. (E); Marcello Santocono, S.I.F.I. (Società Industria Farmaceutica Italiana) S.p.A. (C)
  • Footnotes
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Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science September 2016, Vol.57, 2152. doi:
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      Francesco Giuliano, Manuela Santonocito, Luca Rosario La Rosa, Cristina Zappulla, Santa Viola, Marcello Santocono; Effect of a new dietary supplement formula on the activity and expression of pro-inflammatory genes in vitro. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2016;57(12):2152.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema are characterized by chronic inflammation and high levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Since anti-VEGF agents do not possess a direct effect on inflammation, we set out to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory activity of a nutritional supplement formula codenamed AVS (SIFI S.p.A.) as a candidate support to anti-VEGF therapies. To this end, we exposed stimulated J774.2 and A549 cells to AVS in order to evaluate the effect exerted upon expression and/or activity of interleukine-1beta (IL-1β) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), respectively.

Methods : J774.2 and A549 cells grown to sub-confluence were pre-treated (2 h) with AVS (1.9 mg/ml) and then stimulated with LPS (1 µg/ml) or IL-1β (10 ng/ml), respectively. Following overnight incubation, the medium was collected and nitrites or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production were determined. Total RNA was also extracted to assess the expression of IL-1β, iNOS and COX-2 mRNAs by Real Time RT-PCR. Data represent the average of 8 replicates from 4 different experiments. Statistically relevant differences were sought by unpaired t-test.

Results : LPS treatment induced the accumulation of ~70 µmol/l nitrites in the J774.2 cell culture medium. Treatment with AVS inhibited the accumulation of nitrites by 89% compared to control (p≤0.001). Consistently, AVS produced a significant (p≤0.0001) inhibition of iNOS and IL-1β mRNA expression by 670-fold (99%) and 1100-fold (96%), respectively. COX-2 mRNA expression was not affected by AVS treatment in IL-1β-stimulated A549 cells. However, AVS effectively inhibited PGE2 accumulation by 99% compared to control (p≤0.001).

Conclusions : The specific composition of AVS was shown to be endowed with anti-inflammatory properties. Indeed, AVS was effective in inhibiting nitrites accumulation in J774.2 cultures, most likely by inhibiting the expression of iNOS and IL-1β genes. Interestingly, AVS effectively inhibited the synthesis of PGE2 in A549 cells while unable to inhibit COX-2 expression. These findings suggest that AVS is able to act at multiple levels modulating the expression and/or the activity of important pro-inflammatory genes. Therefore, the AVS formula may well prove a useful anti-inflammatory aid in patients undergoing standard anti-VEGF therapy.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.

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